Top spinning aid

ABSTRACT

A structure to aid in spinning a top in a precise location on a base includes a first portion such as one or more walls that are laterally spaced from the top and engage the base, a second portion such as a roof that extends over the top, and a vertical axle that projects downwardly from the second portion to enter a hole in a central axis of the top.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/442,923, filed Jan. 5, 2017, entitled “TOP SPINNING AID” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to tops, and more particularly to techniques for spinning a top.

Handles that hold a top to aid in spinning have existed for more than a century. In use, the user holds the handle in one hand while pulling on a string, wound around the top, with the other hand. The two hands are pushing laterally in opposite directions. At the moment the string completely unwinds, the hand holding the handle (and thus the top) tends to suddenly move laterally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is recognized that the handles described above are not well suited to spin a top in a precise location, but rather impart lateral motion. Embodiments of the invention, on the other hand, provide techniques that allow a user to spin a top at a precise desired location.

A structure to aid in spinning a top in a precise location on a base includes a first portion that is laterally spaced from the top and engages the base, a second portion that extends over the top, and a vertical axle that projects downwardly from the second portion to enter a hole in a central axis of the top.

The structure is configured to stably engage the base when the user places the structure over the top at the desired location. This is preferably implemented by having the first portion of the structure contact the base at three or more non-collinear places. In different embodiments, the first portion of the structure can be one or more walls and the second portion can be a roof

The wall(s) and the roof can be flat or curved. In one embodiment, the wall and roof are defined by different portions of a curved plate (shell) so where the wall ends and the roof begins is not distinctly visible.

The requirement that the first portion of the structure contact the base at three or more non-collinear positions can be met by a single wall of sufficient extent in both horizontal directions (thickness and length). Multiple thinner walls will inherently meet this requirement, as will a curved wall. Multiple spaced posts can also work.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, which are intended to be exemplary and not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention having at least one wall and a roof.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side and plan views of an embodiment having two spaced walls.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment having two abutting walls.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment where a shell performs the function of the walls and roof.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an embodiment having a curved wall.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views of a first configuration of a top with a string wound around it.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment along the lines of the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, with the top shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIG. 8 is a view of another configuration of a top with a string wound around it.

FIGS. 9A and 9B top and bottom perspective views of an embodiment having a cylindrical wall with a cutout, with the top as shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 show the basic elements of embodiments of the present invention, which is a structure to aid in spinning a top 5 in a precise location on a base 6, on which the top will spin. The structure comprises one or more walls 2, a roof 3 extending laterally from the wall(s) to a vertical axle 4 projecting downward from the roof to enter a hole in the central axis of top 5. The vertical axle can be made adjustable in height to accommodate tops of different heights. The base can be a small concave mirror, which provides a preferred surface for spinning a top.

Initially, the top has a string wound around it. In a method of spinning the top, the user first presses the structure downward on base 6 with one hand while pulling the string with the other hand. Because the structure is pressed downwardly on the base, it can be kept stationary during the spinning process. The structure provides stability by contacting the base at three or more non-collinear places. The user can keep the structure in place after the string has unwound and come off the top, or can lift the structure away from the spinning top.

The structure shown in FIG. 1 has one relatively thick wall that supports the roof. The structure shown in the side view of FIG. 2A and the plan view of FIG. 2B has two walls on opposite sides of vertical axle 4. Also shown in FIG. 2A is that the vertical axle is set in a bearing 8 to reduce friction during use. The structure shown in FIG. 3 has two walls on two adjacent sides of the vertical axle. The walls are shown as abutting, but they need not be.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 are characterized by flat walls and a flat ceiling, but the flatness of these elements is not a necessary feature. FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment where the wall and roof are defined by portions of a curved plate. In this embodiment, the curvature of the wall is visible from the side. FIG. 5 is a plan view of an embodiment having a roof that may be flat, and a curved wall that partially surrounds the vertical axle. In this embodiment, the curvature of the wall is visible from the top.

When the top is ready to spin and positioned by the downwardly projecting axle, any structure of size adequate to clear the body of the top will work. For example with a top having a body of 1″ radius, the inner surfaces of the first portions (walls) must be slightly more than 1″ distant from the centerline of the downwardly projecting axle. There is no functional disadvantage in making the structure much larger than this minimum, except reduced portability.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views of a first configuration of a top with a string wound around it. The top has a body diameter of 3″. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment along the lines of the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, with the top shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. For clarity, the string is not shown.

FIG. 8 is a view of another configuration of a top with a string wound around it. The top has a body diameter of 1.5″. FIGS. 9A and 9B top and bottom perspective views of an embodiment having a cylindrical wall with a cutout, with the top as shown in FIG. 8.

While the above is a complete description of specific embodiments of the invention, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of spinning a top at a precise desired location on a base, the method comprising: providing a top having a hole in a central axis of the top; winding a string around the top with one end of the string exposed; providing a structure having a first portion that is laterally spaced from the top and a second portion that extends over the top, the structure having a downwardly projecting axle; positioning the structure over the top; pressing the structure downwardly against the base so that the first portion contacts the base at three or more non-collinear places, the axle is located in the hole, and the top contacts the base at the desired location; and while maintaining downward pressure on the structure and holding the structure stationary, pulling the exposed end of the string away from the top to cause the top to spin.
 2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising: after the string has unwound and separated from the top, lifting the structure away from the spinning top.
 3. A structure to aid in spinning a top in a precise location on a base comprising: a first portion engages the base at three or more non-collinear places that are laterally spaced from the location where the top is to be located; a second portion that extends away from the first portion over the location where the top is to be located; and a vertical axle that projects downwardly from the second portion to enter a hole in a central axis of the top.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein: the first portion comprises one or more walls; and the second portion comprises a roof connected to the one or more walls.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein one or more of the walls or roof is flat.
 6. The structure of claim 3 wherein: the first portion comprises one or more curved walls; and the second portion comprises a roof connected to the one or more walls.
 7. The structure of claim 3 wherein the first and second portions comprise portions of a curved shell.
 8. The structure of claim 3 wherein said vertical axle is adjustable in height to accommodate tops of different heights.
 9. The structure of claim 3 wherein said vertical axle is set in a low friction bearing to reduce friction in use.
 10. A structure to aid in spinning a top in a precise location comprising: a wall; a roof extending laterally from said wall; and a vertical axle projecting downward from said roof to enter a hole in a central axis of the top.
 11. The structure of claim 10 comprising two walls that support said roof on two sides.
 12. The structure of claim 10 comprising multiple walls that support said roof on multiple sides.
 13. The structure of claim 10 wherein said wall is curved in plan view partially surrounding said top.
 14. The structure of claim 10 wherein said vertical axle is adjustable in height to accommodate tops of different heights.
 15. The structure of claim 10 wherein said vertical axle is set in a low friction bearing to reduce friction in use.
 16. A structure to aid in spinning a top in a precise location on a base below the top, the structure comprising: a shell, partially surrounding the top and extending from the base; and a vertical axle projecting downward from said shell to enter a hole in a central axis of the top.
 17. The structure of claim 16 wherein said vertical axle is adjustable in height to accommodate tops of different heights.
 18. The structure of claim 16 wherein said vertical axle is set in a low friction bearing to reduce friction in use. 